St. Paul Rape Suspect Denied Charges

A teenage boy denied rape charges of a disabled teenage girl and a 57-year-old woman in a tape-recorded interview Friday in Ramsey County District Court in Saint Paul, police said.
Joshua L. Smith, was accused of raping a 17-year-old girl in 2006, who has mental and physical disabilities, the Star Tribune reported.
He also is charged with raping and beating a 57-year-old woman in the parking lot behind the Salvation Army building on Payne Avenue on New Year's Day 2007, police said.
Both attacks happened when Smith was 16.
Smith, now 18, is on trial in Ramsey County District Court on two counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct, the Star Tribune reported.
Smith was interviewed by Sgt. Jennifer O'Donnell. When asked about the attack of the teenage girl, Smith denied all accusations.
"Are you sure you never had sex with her?" O'Donnell asked.
"Sure," Smith said.
"Are you sure she never gave you [oral sex]?"
"Sure."
Steven Swenson, a forensic scientist for the state Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, was the last to take the witness stand Friday.
He testified that semen was found on the 17-year-old victim's underwear, on the oral and genital swab taken from the 57-year-old victim during a sex assault exam.
Although semen was found, there was no testimony Friday stating that it was Smith’s DNA. The trial is expected continue Monday, the Star Tribune reported.